The Synagogue of Tránsito in Toledo, Spain is one of the best preserved medieval synagogues in Iberia. Built in 1355-1357 in the Mudejar style, it has ornate plasterwork, inscriptions in Arabic and Hebrew, and features such as a prayer room, women's gallery, and courtyard. After the expulsion of Jews in 1492, it was converted to a church but now houses the Sephardic Museum which documents the history and culture of Spanish Jews.

1. THE SYNAGOGUETHE SYNAGOGUE
OF TRÁNSITOOF TRÁNSITO
(TOLEDO)(TOLEDO)
Teresa García García, 2ºB

3. IndexIndex
1. T1. The Jews of Toledo in the Middle Agehe Jews of Toledo in the Middle Age
2. The synagogues in Toledo2. The synagogues in Toledo
3. The Synagogue of Tránsito3. The Synagogue of Tránsito
– Characteristics of the buildingCharacteristics of the building
– The facadeThe facade
– The prayer roomThe prayer room
– The pavementThe pavement
– The windowsThe windows
– The ceilingThe ceiling
– The decoration of the wallsThe decoration of the walls
4. The Sephardic Museum4. The Sephardic Museum

4. 1. T1. The Jews of Toledo inhe Jews of Toledo in
the Middle Agethe Middle Age

5.  44thth
centurycentury. There was already a Jewish community in. There was already a Jewish community in
Toledo.Toledo.
 711711.. With the Muslim conquest of Toledo Jews lived aWith the Muslim conquest of Toledo Jews lived a
period of great freedomperiod of great freedom..
 1085.1085. With theWith the conquest of Toledo byconquest of Toledo by Alfonso VIAlfonso VI, Jews, Jews
had important positions in the Court.had important positions in the Court.
 1212thth
century.century. Jewish emigration from Al-Andalus toJewish emigration from Al-Andalus to
Toledo.Toledo.
 1313thth
centurycentury.. Maximum prosperity of the JewishMaximum prosperity of the Jewish
community of Toledo withcommunity of Toledo with Alfonso X El SabioAlfonso X El Sabio..
Coexistence with Christians and Muslims.Coexistence with Christians and Muslims.
 18 June 1391.18 June 1391. Killings in the Jewish quarter of Toledo.Killings in the Jewish quarter of Toledo.
 1492.1492. TheThe Catholic MonarchsCatholic Monarchs signed thesigned the "Edict of"Edict of
Expulsion"Expulsion" and all Jews were forced to leave Spain.and all Jews were forced to leave Spain.
Some were converted.Some were converted.

6. The Jewish quarter came to occupy tenth ofThe Jewish quarter came to occupy tenth of
Toledo (13Toledo (13thth
century)century)..
Model of the Jewish Quarter of Toledo in the
Sephardic Museum

7. The Jews called Sefarad to SpainThe Jews called Sefarad to Spain..
The term “The term “sefardíessefardíes” is used for the descendants” is used for the descendants
of the jews of Sefarad from their expulsion up untilof the jews of Sefarad from their expulsion up until
the present day.the present day.
Many sephardíes still speakMany sephardíes still speak LadinoLadino (Judeo-(Judeo-
Spanish) andSpanish) and keep the keys of the homes they leftkeep the keys of the homes they left
in Spain.in Spain.

8. 22.. The synagogues of ToledoThe synagogues of Toledo
Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca.
13th
century

9.  Until the 15Until the 15thth
century, inside the Jewish quarter therecentury, inside the Jewish quarter there
were more thanwere more than 9 synagogues9 synagogues::
- The synagogue of Samuel ha-Leví (Tránsito)- The synagogue of Samuel ha-Leví (Tránsito)
- The synagogue of Josef ben Shoshan (Santa María la- The synagogue of Josef ben Shoshan (Santa María la
Blanca)Blanca)
- Sofer Synagogue- Sofer Synagogue
- Swallows Synagogue- Swallows Synagogue
- Caleros Sinagogue- Caleros Sinagogue
- Old Synagogue…- Old Synagogue…
 When the Jews were forced to leave Spain in 1492, theWhen the Jews were forced to leave Spain in 1492, the
synagogues weresynagogues were destroyed or turned intodestroyed or turned into
churcheschurches..
 Today, onlyToday, only twotwo of them are preserved (Tránsito andof them are preserved (Tránsito and
Santa María la Blanca).Santa María la Blanca).

10. 3.3. The Synagogue of TránsitoThe Synagogue of Tránsito

11.  The synagogue shows one of the most beautifulThe synagogue shows one of the most beautiful
examples ofexamples of mudéjar stylemudéjar style in Hispanic-Jewishin Hispanic-Jewish
legacylegacy..
 Built between 1355 and 1357, with the help of KingBuilt between 1355 and 1357, with the help of King
Pedro I of Castile by his treasurer,Pedro I of Castile by his treasurer, Samuel ha-Samuel ha-
Levi.Levi.
Samuel ha-Levi lived in Toledo,Samuel ha-Levi lived in Toledo,
in the palace that is today the Greco Museum.in the palace that is today the Greco Museum.
He died under tortures.He died under tortures.

12.  With theWith the
expulsion of theexpulsion of the
Jews theJews the
synagogue wassynagogue was
taken over by thetaken over by the
Order ofOrder of
CalatravaCalatrava..
 Later it becameLater it became
thethe ChurchChurch ofof
Nuestra SeñoraNuestra Señora
del Tránsitodel Tránsito

13. Characteristics of theCharacteristics of the
buildingbuilding
 Mudéjar architecture: a mixture of Christian andMudéjar architecture: a mixture of Christian and
Muslim artMuslim art..
 Made by mudéjar builders.Made by mudéjar builders.
 Building materials: plaster, brick, ceramic andBuilding materials: plaster, brick, ceramic and
woodwood..
 Building of rectangular plant.Building of rectangular plant.
 It includes: prayer room, women's gallery, roomsIt includes: prayer room, women's gallery, rooms
dedicated to the Rabbinic Shool (today rooms of thededicated to the Rabbinic Shool (today rooms of the
museum) andmuseum) and an exterior courtyard where there arean exterior courtyard where there are
remains of a possible Mikveh.remains of a possible Mikveh.

14. The facade:The facade:
Characterized forCharacterized for
its simplicityits simplicity

15. The prayer room :The prayer room :
A nave of 23 m. long, 9.5 m. wide and 17 m. highA nave of 23 m. long, 9.5 m. wide and 17 m. high
Ezrat
nashim
(women'swomen's
gallerygallery)
Holy wall,
oriented
Jesulalem

16. The pavement:The pavement:
of ceramicof ceramic
Reconstruction of the
pavement

17. The windows:The windows:
They are above, to illuminate the roomThey are above, to illuminate the room
Polylobed arches

18. The ceiling:The ceiling:
Polychrome conifer woodPolychrome conifer wood

19. The decoration ofThe decoration of
the wallsthe walls

20. Polychrome plasterworkPolychrome plasterwork
Hejal:
niche in
the holy
wall

21. Heraldic motifs from Castile andHeraldic motifs from Castile and
LeonLeon

22. Vegetable motifs: pine cones,Vegetable motifs: pine cones,
acorns, grapes …acorns, grapes …

23. Geometric motifsGeometric motifs

24. Inscriptions in Arab and HebrewInscriptions in Arab and Hebrew
Inscriptions in
Arab
Inscriptions in
Hebrew
In some Arab inscription reads: "Allah is unique”

25. MocárabesMocárabes

26. 4. The Sephardic Museum4. The Sephardic Museum

27. The Museum wasThe Museum was
created in 1964 andcreated in 1964 and
installed in theinstalled in the
Synagogue of Tránsito.Synagogue of Tránsito.
The Museum reflectThe Museum reflect
the history of Jews inthe history of Jews in
Spain, from theirSpain, from their
arrival in Roman timesarrival in Roman times
to their expulsion byto their expulsion by
the Catholic Monarchs.the Catholic Monarchs.
C) Samuel Leví, s/n

28. Some pieces of the MuseumSome pieces of the Museum
Menorá Box of the Torá

29. Sephardic wedding dresses

30. Interesting websitesInteresting websites
 www.museosefardi.mcu.eswww.museosefardi.mcu.es
 www.toledo-turismo.comwww.toledo-turismo.com
 www.redjuderias.orgwww.redjuderias.org
 www.turismocastillalamancha.eswww.turismocastillalamancha.es